Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-10
SOMEBODY PERJURED.
HARPER TAKES THE WITNESS STAND
IN HIS OWN BEHALF.

Stories That Wiltshire and Eckert Told
Burst of Emotion-Arensdorf Is limo
cent, Says the jury at Sioux City-A
Sprinter's Criminal Break.
request as he stated to the judge when asked
the question, E. L. Harper took the witness
stand Friday to testify in his own behalf be-
fore crowded court room, many of the au-
dience being ladies' He began by stat
ing that he knew Wiltshire, with
smile that seemed to say, II wish
didn't"-and then proceeded to deny every
thing that Wiltshire said in his testimony so
far as it implicated Harper in the wheat
deal. He went over the transactions
between Wiltshire and the Fidelity bank, ex-
planning that they all involved the borrow
ing of money by Wiltshire and others, and
that witness did not have a cent of interest
in their deals He declared that when he
found that Wiltshire had overdrawn his &C
count he did all he could to have him square
up and refused to let him have any more
money, although Wiltshire begged for it.
Them while witness was absent from the
bank, Wiltshire got some more money from
Hopkins. Hearing this Harper was frantic
He stormed at Wiltshire, but could get moth
ing out of him He then suggested to the
cashier to take call loan from Wiltshire, Eek
ert & Co, to square their account and save
the cashier
In answer to direct questions from Mr..
Blackburn Mr. Harper stated unreservedly
that he never gave an order OF any kind to
Mr. Eckert to buy grain for him in Chicago,
and he was equally sweeping and explicit in
saying that he never authorized Mr.. Wiltshire
to buy grain for him in Chicago or elsewhere.
This is the point of the whole case, and is in
direct conflict with the testimony of both Mr..
Wiltshire and Mr. Eckert
Harper then came to the time Of the great
crash. "Very early on the morning of the
l4th of June" be said, wiltshire came to my
residence and said: They have changed the
rules on me in Chicago and can unload wheat
| anywhere and still it will be regular. They
| are trying to unload all the wheat of the
northwest on me- He wanted $500, 900 more
money ] told him l would not loan him 20U
cents more. l told him he had deceived
had cheated me; he had lied to me; he
| had robbed the bank. l came up to
| the bank and there l found telegram
| from ST. Louis asking if there was
a run on the institution. | went to dine.
| Ben Hopkins followed me in, and Wiltshire
was there before my dinner had arrived.
went downstairs and went into the wash-room.
They followed me- both of them, with tears in
their eyes, and said everything would be lost
if did not give them this money; that the
shrinkage up to that time made difference
OF 100000. Hopkins suggested that We
telegraph a bank in Chicago asking how
much they would take to see the deal
through Hopkins accordingly went and tel
egraphed the American Exchange bank OF
Chicago as understand When got back
from dinner there was telegram there from
the American Exchange National bank, Of
Chicago, saying if Wiltshire would b.
there with S601,0oU in the morning il
would bea all right. Wiltshire, Hopkins and
talked the matter over, and we decided t
save the bank We also acted on the strength
of another telegram that Wiltshire had re
ceived from his principal up there, that il
the money was paid wheat would go up II
cents Wiltshire was afraid to go to Chicago
alone with the funds lest the money shoult
be attached, so Hopkins telegraphed J. W
Hoyt at Delphi to accompany Wiltshire t.
Chicago. l instructed Hoyt and Wilshir'
that the drafts and credits be not given up t.
the Chicago bank on any consideration I'm
less the bank would guarantee that our banl
should be held safe Still worried about tn
matter found Gahr and told him that vii
shire would he on the train with $500,
900, which wanted him Gahrl to take pos
session of and see that Wiltshire get prope
guarantee before he turned it over in Chica
go. He found Wiltshire The next mornin,
i. l.. A.
was afraid they would give up the paper
without the proper guarantee but it was to
late. l received a telegram from Wishir
stating that the letters of credit and th
checks had been turned over-the Chicag
bank had taken the papers and used then
to save itself from kershaws deficiency
Payment was afterward stopped on tn
drafts
Here Harper became much affected; hi
voice was choked by sohs and his fran
shook with emotion. Il got together" b
! said, "all my individual resources to save tn
bank But the run began. The officers G
the bank hastened to pull out beating tn
public in this regard. They never made tn
slightest effort to save the bank with thei
individual resources They pulled out tn
, money dumped in Finally. June 2U, Ger
Power came i told him it would be ruinou
to examine the bank at this time. He sal
|, that if, by o'clock the next morning $500
900 was raised the bank could RENAL
open. l offered to raise 500 900 an
Zimmerman offered his assistance, but th
other directors did nothing, and SO the ban
closed. never authorized the purchase {
: wheat through Poole & Sherman, nc
Wright & Co, nor McFarlan & Co. Hami
& Brine, Rosenfeld & Co., Fleming & Boyde
nor Crosby & Co. did not know anything
Of the Irwin, Green & Co 500, 900 tran:
1 action until my attention was called to it las
summer l had no knowledge of transa'
lions with kershaw other than to loan Hol
4 kins out of my own pocket Therefore
never took penny Of the banks money, an
in all transactions money was advanced
hedge against Wiltshire"
Shortly before court adjourned Jude
Jackson asked Maj. Blackburn whether
i would have any more witnesses. The majo
sorely perplexed at the conduct Of his ellen
was unable to answer at once.
il "Tell him you have" whispered Harper,
q he nudged the attorney with his elbow. Il
n course you have" he continued; "tel hi
a you have twenty or thirty more to examil
: yet
y AReNSpORF GOES ACQUiT.
u The Jurv Dscides That He Did Not X